Retail sales beat expectations in August

Compared to August 2009, sales rose 3.6 percent to $363.7 billion, the department said. On a month-to-month basis retail sales were expected to rise 0.3 percent.

Excluding the volatile category of automobiles, sales rose 0.6 percent compared to a month ago, Commerce said. Automobile sales fell 0.7 percent in August.

Furniture sales were also down, off 0.5 percent, while sales of electronics and appliances dropped 1.1 percent compared to July.

The only other category in which there was a drop was miscellaneous, down 0.9 percent.

The largest gain in the month was posted by gasoline stations, were sales rose 1.9 percent. Sales at food and beverage stores rose 1.3 percent. At clothing stores, sales rose 1.2 percent.

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